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Day for GRU fundraising seeks $750,000

Guests enjoy a boxed lunch during the campaign kickoff for the A Day for GRU fundraising event at the Summerville campus at Georgia Regents University.

Wes Zamzow chats with donors during A Day for GRU fundraising event at the Summerville campus.

While ‘A Day for Augusta State University’ is no more, officials are hoping A Day for GRU at Georgia Regents University will surpass it.

“It isn’t trying to replace it, it’s trying to build on it,” said Chief Development Officer Susan Barcus at the campaign kickoff for the Summerville campus on Tuesday.

“We’re trying to take a tradition and build on that tradition,” said Wes Zamzow, director of annual giving. Last year’s goal of $550,000 has been increased to $750,000, he said.

Last year’s campaign came during a storm of controversy over the selection of the GRU name for the newly consolidated ASU and Georgia Health Sciences University, with many ASU supporters threatening to withhold donations.

“I think some did,” Barcus said. “I think there were definitely some folks who were upset and we certainly understand that. But what we found is it didn’t hurt us on the total. We hit goal. We probably didn’t have as robust a year as we might have had things stayed the same.”

Support has been good this year, Barcus said.

“It’s about the students,” Zamzow said. “And our alums and our donors and the people who work here realize that and want to continue to support us.”

Money raised will be used for things like scholarships or supporting athletics, he said.